Comments

On a brass tag attached to the ignition coil. If the tag is missing, there is no really sure way to identify a Ford engine of that era. You can get date codes and some casting numbers but not a serial #. So without the brass tag + the build sheet, you can never establish a matching # car on a Ford of that type. But you can probably ascertain that it's the correct year of motor at least, by a lot of digging. Ford engines are a nightmare for collectors in this regard.

I think some Mustang guru can figure this out, and perhaps tell you more than you ever wanted to know about cryptic Ford numbers stamped in odd places--much more than I can--but as for basic engine ID, the brass tag is all you got back then.

You can easily identify the engine as a 289 vs. a 302 by looking at the casting numbers at the rear of the right cylinder bank. But guessing the exact year of the engine, that takes some research and reading. And mating it to the exact car you have----well good luck.

Thanks! This is great information and also gives us a lot of links to more good stuff. However, the chart you mention, while very useful, does not actually address specific serial numbers, i.e., when was our actual engine built? With this unique number, is there a record of when and where built? If you have any other suggestions, I would appreciate hearing them. Also, I would like to say thanks for your AMAZINGLY quick answer. I saw a similar question at another site--posted in May 2007 and still not answered!

Well if you read carefully (in a place I didn't direct you to) it tells you how to get a date off the inside of the cam cover---and of course, one can assume that the cam over and engine block were created more or less within a few weeks of each other.

I am looking at a GM motor, 350 most likely and the numbers on the upper right side of the bell housing is 1024388c or 0 for the last digit. Is that enough info to find out what car it was in or what kind of car it was in?

You correct on where to fine the engine ID, on the 289 it will say 289 in the intake valley and if it is a 67 it will read C7OE and the first 302 was put out in the end of 1967 in the late production and 1968 on will read C80E, C9=1969, D0 0E=1970, D is for the 70's,E for the 80's

My brother-in-law recently purchsed a ground up restored '55 2DR Belair, with a crate 350 under the lid. He did not receive any info on the restoration and has asked me to inquire about the engine. Serial numbers are: B0803UTK-2316366K.Any help would be appreciated.

Hi can someone please tell me where i can locate the engine serial number for a 2003 honda accord.I know it's embedded somewhere in the engine but where, and how many letters/digitsIt's urgent.ThanksTL

It would help if you told people whether it was a 4 or 6 cylinder. Not sure about the 6 cylinders, but on the 4 cylinders, if I'm remembering correctly, it's stamped on a little pad where the engine meets the transmission.

but couldn't identify the engine serial number. The engine I have has a serial number next to the distributor that says "DR140622CAL", which is different from the serial number layout on the above web site. Is there any other sources engine serial number searches?

The other interesting fact, is that everyone, including the old timers, has told me that the 1950 216 has babbitt bearings, which I understand to mean that the bearings are integrated into the piston rods and crankshaft main bearings and are adjusted with shims. When I pulled one of the rod bearing caps off it had a bearing insert. One of the old timers came over and verified that the engine had insert bearings. I also under stand that the 1950 216 engine was a light blue color like the engine compartment, but the engine is orange. I'm wondering if the engine is a different year? Like I said above, I'd like to track down this engine serial number

Here's a reply I received concerning the serial number, which I received from another forum where I asked this same question.

Yes your "DR " number is a asigned ID number. Many years ago many states used both engine and chassis ID numbers on titles. So you got a GM new replacement or reman engine you had to go down to the DMV and get it inspected and the title corrected. Dad replaced the engine in our 41 Chevy in 51 and down to DMV we went. Most car makers stopped using engine IDs towards the late 50s and states started using just the chassis ID on title.

I'm pretty well convinced that the the 50 truck has a 52/53 216 engine. When getting parts I'll probably treat it as a 52 or 53 engine.

It sounds like DMV maybe required new replacement engines or rebuilt engines to have different serial numbers. Not sure, buy my serial number is not a standard Chevy/GM serial number. As for the casting numbers, which make me think the engine is a 52/53 216, here's the info:

No, DMV doesn't mess with engine serial numbers. If you truck had a VIN # on the title that was the same as the engine number (this often happened back then, even though your truck has a perfectly good chassis # which SHOULD be on the title), and then if you changed the engine, your truck would still carry the old engine # on the title.

If your truck has a CHASSIS # on a plate somewhere, I would make THAT the VIN on the title.

As for which engine you have, that's important for ordering parts, as you say, but you don't necessarily have to know the YEAR of the engine, just the type.

If you have a 216, then you don't have insert bearings. One tip off is if you drop the pan, you'll see little "dippers" attached to the crankshaft to splash oil on the bearings.

It's a very primitive engine and if you are ambitious, it would be nice to put a 235 in there someday.

The previous post to your reply has the casting numbers I found, which are for 1952/53 engines (if my search was correct). I also noticed that above the block casting it say "GM 3". On another forum someone said there should be a cast date somewhere on the right side of the block. I wonder if the GM 3 is the year? As for the vehicle serial number (VIN), the tag in the door frame says "20HPC3181", but the engine says "DR140622CAL". Very frustrating trying to figure exactly what engine I have.